Cargo ship avoids Denmark, heading to Malta

The cargo ship ‘MV Ruby’, carrying 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate from Russia, spent the weekend stationary off the coast of Norway and is now en route to Malta. The shipping company altered plans after Denmark closely monitored the vessel. Danish authorities confirm that the ship is instructed to offload its cargo in Malta before proceeding to a nearby shipyard for repairs. ‘Ruby’ was initially damaged departing the Russian port of Kandalaksha and attempted to dock in Tromsø, Norway, for damage repair but was refused due to the hazardous cargo. The same was true for Lithuania. Ammonium nitrate is commonly used in fertilizer but has explosive potential, as seen in the 2020 Beirut explosion. However, according to chemist Peter Hald, it’s not particularly dangerous during transport on specialized ships. Owned by a Lebanese company and flying a Maltese flag, ‘MV Ruby’ is expected to arrive in Malta by October 8.